Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons

Anatomical variations of the caudal ventral lamina of the sixth cervical vertebra (C6), referred to as equine caudal cervical morphologic variations (ECCMV), and radiographic modelling of the caudal cervical articular process joints (APJ) are commonly identified in sport horses, yet their interrelationship and relevance for athletic performance remain controversial. This retrospective observational study aimed to determine the prevalence of ECCMV and APJ modelling in a clinically sound warmblood sport horse population, to evaluate a potential association and to assess if ECCMV affects competition performances. Records of 200 warmbloods, presented for pre-purchase examination between 2020 and 2024 were reviewed: the predominant breed was Hanoverian (n = 131), followed by Oldenburg (n = 27) and Holsteiner (n = 22), including 127 geldings, 61 mares and 12 stallions with a median age of 5. ECCMV was diagnosed on latero-lateral radiographs if the caudal ventral lamina of C6 was uni- or bilaterally absent, and APJ modelling at C6/C7 was graded as either normal or mild or moderate to severe. Competition placings and lifetime earnings of each horse were collected from the German National Equestrian Federation database. ECCMV was found in 30% of horses and APJ modelling in 32.5% (mild 26.5%, moderate/severe 6%). There was no significant association between the presence of ECCMV, APJ alterations and competition results, but horses with ECCMV were less likely to exhibit radiographic changes in the adjacent APJ compared to those with a normal C6 morphology (23.3% vs. 36.4%). In conclusion, ECCMV is a common anatomical variation in clinically sound warmbloods, neither predisposing them to APJ modelling nor limiting athletic performance.

Background: Equine sinonasal disorders are significant diseases whose investigation and treatment have undergone significant changes over the past decade. No large study has described the signalments, pre-referral management, or the clinical and nasal

SummaryBackgroundYoungstock are particularly susceptible to parasitic disease; anthelmintic resistance is an increasing problem.ObjectivesTo investigate the current approaches to testing for parasites and anthelmintic use in foals and adult horses on UK studs.Study DesignCross‐sectional study; online survey.MethodsSurveyMonkey questionnaires (multiple choice, Likert scale and free text questions) distributed via practices, press, social media and snowball sampling. Descriptive and inferential statistics performed in Microsoft Excel and STATA. Statistical differences assessed with Fisher's exact test or Mann–Whitney U test.ResultsThere were 56 usable responses. Experience, faecal egg counts and veterinary advice were considered to be the most important factors in determining anthelmintic choice. The commonest product choices overall were a moxidectin–praziquantel combination, fenbendazole and pyrantel. Timing of anthelmintic treatment for cyathostomins in broodmares was based on faecal egg counts in 58.9%; treatment for tapeworms was based on ELISA results in 10.7%. With respect to foals, 61.8% received anthelmintic treatments regardless of test results; the commonest anthelmintic products used in foals were fenbendazole (56.6%) and pyrantel (47.9%). Anthelmintic resistance on the property was reported by 27.8% of respondents, but there was no association with reported illness.Main LimitationsSmall sample size. Potential selection bias and response bias.ConclusionsOver a quarter of stud owners believed that anthelmintic resistance occurred on their premises. The commonest used anthelmintic product on stud farms was moxidectin–praziquantel combination. The commonest anthelmintic used in foals was fenbendazole. Testing for tapeworms was uncommonly undertaken. Results identify areas where testing for parasites and anthelmintic use on stud farms could be improved.

The provision of effective equine analgesia remains a challenge in equine practice. It relies upon a number of processes including recognition and assessment of pain severity, understanding of the type of pain (visceral, musculoskeletal, neuropathic etc), knowledge of available drugs and their mechanisms of actions, consideration of drug side effects and interactions and basic knowledge of pharmacokinetics. The overall aim is to provide adequate analgesia often using a multi-modal approach. Veterinary understanding of many of these processes remains incomplete and how analgesic drugs are used is often extrapolated from other species, which creates challenges with regards to effective dosing strategies. This review considers the evidence behind two analgesic medications which are commonly used in practice. Paracetamol and gabapentin are attractive for use in horses because they have an oral route of administration, low cost and few perceived side effects. This review discusses the published evidence regarding the likely efficacy of these drugs, and how best to maximise their use.

Nursing the surgical patient plays an important part in the role of the equine registered veterinary nurse (RVN), making it essential for RVNs to understand the perioperative process. This chapter looks at the patient care pathway from admission to post-operative care. This chapter covers the physiology of healing, wounds, grafts, fracture management, oncological treatments, surgery and standing procedures. Having knowledge in these areas will enable the RVN to understand better how to nurse different surgical conditions and why areas such as surgical safety checklists and communication are essential to prevent critical incidents.

Excessive umbilical cord length (UCL) is associated with equine pregnancy loss. However, a lack of UCL reference values makes it difficult to define excessive UCL. Further, factors associated with differences in UCL are poorly understood. To (i) report the total, allantoic and amniotic UCL in healthy term pregnancies in Thoroughbreds, (ii) describe the relationship between gestational age and UCL, fetal weight and crown rump length (CRL) using clinically normal pregnancies (CNPs) from mares dying during gestation, and (iii) identify associations between UCL and maternal age and parity, paternal age, and fetal sex. Cross-sectional. Data including UCLs, fetal weight, CRL and maternal age, parity, paternal age and fetal sex were taken from CNPs from Thoroughbred mares dying during gestation (n = 32), and placentas from HTPs(n = 34) in England. Correlations were assessed using Spearman's rank with significant correlations estimated by locally weighted scatter plot smoothing (LOWESS). Regression plots were fitted to highly correlated variables to further assess and quantify relationships. Differences in UCL between categorical variables were assessed using Kruskall Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. The median total, amniotic and allantoic HTP UCLs were 53.5 cm (interquartile range [IQR] 16), 29.5 cm (IQR 7) and 25.0 cm (IQR 8) respectively. Gestational age and amniotic UCL were moderately correlated (rho = 0.53, p = 0.04), with LOWESS estimating an exponential increase followed by plateauing at around Day 200. Nonlinear associations were observed between fetal weight and gestational age and CRL (adjusted r2 = 0.98 and 0.95 respectively). A linear association was observed between gestational age and CRL: predicted CRL = -17.60 + 0.38 × gestational age, p < 0.001. Limited availability of CNPs from mares dying during gestation. Estimated relationships can only approximate growth. This study provides important UCL and fetal size reference values, which may aid in assessing abnormalities. For the first time, associations between UCL and gestational age have been described.

Fissure in the third metacarpal/tarsal parasagittal groove and proximal phalanx sagittal groove is a potential prodromal pathology of fracture; therefore, early identification and characterisation of fissures using non-invasive imaging could be of clinical value. Thirty-three equine cadaver limbs underwent standing cone-beam (CB) computed tomography (CT), fan-beam (FB) CT, low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and macro/histo-pathological examination. Imaging diagnoses of fissures were compared to microscopic examination. Imaging features of fissures were described. Histopathological findings were scored and compared between locations with and without fissures on CT. Microscopic examination identified 114/291 locations with fissures. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 88.5% and 61.3% for CBCT, 84.1% and 72.3% for FBCT, and 43.6% and 85.2% for MRI. Four types of imaging features of fissures were characterised on CT: (1) CBCT/FBCT hypoattenuating linear defects, (2) CBCT/FBCT striated hypoattenuated lines, (3) CBCT/FBCT subchondral irregularity, and (4) CBCT striated hypoattenuating lines and FBCT subchondral irregularity. Fissures on MRI appeared as subchondral bone hypo-/hyperintense defects. Microscopic scores of subchondral bone sclerosis, microcracks, and collapse were significantly higher in locations with CT-identified fissures. All imaging modalities were able to identify fissures. Fissures identified on CT were associated with histopathology of fatigue injuries.

Emergency laparotomies in donkeys are infrequently performed and there is limited literature on the subject. To determine findings and associated outcomes of exploratory laparotomies in donkeys. Descriptive retrospective study. Donkeys undergoing emergency exploratory laparotomy for investigation and treatment of colic at seven UK referral hospitals between 2005-2017 were included. Data were retrieved from available hospital records. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistical analysis of outcomes of interest was performed in three steps. Thirty-three cases fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Clinical signs on presentation were available for 32 donkeys, of which 53.1% (17/32) presented for investigation of colic while in 46.9% (15/32) the presenting complaint was non-specific. Primary lesion location included small intestine (42.4%, 14/33), large colon (39.3%, 13/33), caecum (6.1%, 2/33), stomach (6.1%, 2/33) and 6.1% (2/33) had multiple abnormal findings without a clear primary lesion. Overall survival to discharge was 54.5% (18/33). Five donkeys (15.2%, 5/33) were euthanased at surgery and of those recovering from general anaesthesia a further 35.7% (10/28) were euthanased or died prior to discharge. Six donkeys (21.4%, 6/28) required a second laparotomy of which 4 (66.7%, 4/6) survived. Post-operative complications occurred in 82.1% (23/28) of cases and included hyperlipaemia (42.9%, 12/28), incisional complications (21.4%, 6/28), ileus (21.4%, 6/28) and persistent colic (17.9%, 5/28). When adjusted for other complications, donkeys with primary gastric lesions were less likely to have presented with severe colic compared with those with primary small intestinal lesions (OR: 0.07, 95% CI 0.01-0.95, p=0.05). Only age was positively associated with death prior to discharge (OR: 1.18, 95% CI 1.03-1.36, p=0.02). Small sample size and retrospective design. Donkeys with abdominal lesions may present with a range of signs often not including colic. Surgical findings were diverse and survival to discharge appears to be lower than in horses.